We Must Re-Think Education in Rural America

Rural Education at a Tipping Point

Rural America is approaching, or has already approached, a tipping point in education. The education dollars are largely no longer there. We have to come up with innovative solutions to have competitive students that complete school, have reasons to stay, and start businesses.

This is not just an education problem. It is a community survival problem. When a town cannot educate its young people in a way that gives them a reason to stay or return, the town’s future is in question.

What the Data Tells Us

The USDA Economic Research Service reports that rural counties have smaller proportions of people under age 55 than urban areas, and the number of rural people between ages 15 and 64 has fallen from over 30 million in 2010 to 28 million in 2023 (USDA ERS, Rural America at a Glance 2024). This is not just a brain drain. It is a community drain.

When young people leave and do not come back, the tax base shrinks. Schools consolidate. Businesses close. The remaining population ages. And the cycle continues.

The Rural Health Information Hub notes that 63.1 percent of primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas are in rural areas (Rural Health Information Hub, Healthcare Workforce). This is connected to education. When a town cannot attract young professionals — including doctors, teachers, and business owners — it is often because the educational pipeline is broken.

Why Rural Schools Are Struggling

Rural schools face a unique set of challenges:

Declining enrollment. As families leave rural areas, school enrollment drops. Lower enrollment means less funding. Less funding means fewer programs. Fewer programs mean fewer reasons for families to stay.

Teacher shortages. Rural schools often cannot compete with urban salaries. The best teachers leave for better pay and better working conditions. The remaining teachers are often overworked and under-supported.

Limited resources. Rural schools often lack the technology, facilities, and extracurricular programs that urban schools take for granted. This puts rural students at a disadvantage when they apply to colleges or enter the workforce.

School consolidation. When small schools close, students are bused to larger schools in other towns. This weakens the community identity that the school once provided and makes it harder for the church to build relationships with families.

The Church’s Role in Rural Education

Churches cannot replace schools. But they can supplement them. Here is how:

1. Support teachers. Pray for them. Encourage them. Provide meals during parent-teacher conferences. Let them know they are valued.

2. Offer tutoring and mentoring. Many rural students need academic help that their schools cannot provide. Churches can organize tutoring programs, mentoring relationships, and after-school homework help.

3. Provide scholarships. Even small scholarships can make a difference for rural students who want to pursue higher education but cannot afford it.

4. Create reasons to stay. The best way to keep young people in rural areas is to give them a reason to stay. That means jobs, community, and a sense of belonging. Churches can be at the center of that effort.

A New Vision for Rural Education

We need to re-think education in rural America. Not just the schools, but the entire ecosystem. Education is not just about classrooms and textbooks. It is about formation — helping young people become the people God created them to be.

That means churches, schools, businesses, and community organizations working together. It means investing in young people not just as students, but as future leaders. It means creating a vision for the future that is compelling enough to keep them home.

The alternative is a slow decline that ends with empty schools, empty churches, and empty towns. That does not have to be our future. But avoiding it will require creativity, collaboration, and a commitment to the next generation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can our church support rural education?

Start by building relationships with local teachers and school administrators. Offer to help with tutoring, mentoring, or after-school programs. Provide scholarships for graduating seniors. And pray for the schools in your community.

What is school consolidation, and why does it matter?

School consolidation is when small schools are closed and students are bused to larger schools in other towns. It weakens community identity and makes it harder for churches to build relationships with families.

How do we keep young people in rural areas?

Give them a reason to stay. That means jobs, community, and a sense of belonging. Churches can help by creating a welcoming community, supporting local businesses, and investing in the next generation.

What role should the church play in education?

The church cannot replace schools, but it can supplement them. Tutoring, mentoring, scholarships, and community support are all ways churches can make a difference.

How do we attract young families to rural areas?

Focus on quality of life. Rural areas offer affordable housing, safe communities, and a slower pace of life. Churches can help by creating a welcoming environment for young families and connecting them with the community.

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Brent Lacy has spent over 25 years in small-town and rural ministry. He has watched schools consolidate, young people leave, and communities struggle. But he has also seen churches step up and make a difference.